In Week 2 of the 2025 Legislative Session, Utah lawmakers work to allocate funds in a tight budget year after extra federal spending from the COVID-19 pandemic has dried up.

Proposed legislation could affect how voters pass ballot initiatives and how the state manages elections. Lawmakers also discuss shoring up the state's resources as Federal grant and loan funding for state and local programs is thrown into question by executive orders from DC.

Utah State Majority Assistant Whip Sen. Mike McKell and Minority Whip Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost join KUER politics reporter Sean Higgins and host Jason Perry on this episode of The Hinckley Report.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.

Following his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed a flood of executive orders including actions on immigration, public safety, and birthright citizenship. He also pardoned approximately 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the events of January 6th, 2021, including 18 Uthans.

Governor Spencer Cox focused his State of the State Address on building affordable homes, energy production, regulatory reform, and strengthening families and communities in Utah.

The 45-day Legislative Session also kicked off with Utah legislators proposing bills to protect kids from social media, change how Utahns pass ballot initiatives, and amend the election process.

What do lawmakers care about most and how could these sweeping changes in government affect Uthans?

Republican Majority Leader Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore, Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Luz Escamilla, Bountiful City Councilwoman Kate Bradshaw, and host Jason Perry break down these important issues on this week's episode of The Hinckley Report.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.

With just a few days until Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, people close to his incoming administration say he is planning extensive executive action on his first day in office. Our panel examines how Utah could be impacted, including potential changes to the boundaries of national monuments like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Plus, what will be the overall tone of his inaugural speech, and will it do anything to unite the country?

The Utah legislature is also just days away from beginning its 2025 General Session. Legislative leaders have indicated their priotities include energy policy and development. We discuss how an "all of the above" approach could include both coal AND nuclear power. One proposal on Capitol Hill would re-direct some property tax revenue into energy development, but will this face push-back from rural counties that already count on that funding for their general budgets?

Tax cuts will be another big topic during the legislative session. Over the past several years, the legislature has passed $1.2 billion in tax cuts, and legislative leaders are eyeing another $165 million in 2025. Governor Spencer Cox wants the cut to come from removing income taxes on all social security benefits, but other lawmakers may have different ideas.

Plus, as Salt Lake CIty moves forward with plans to use sales tax revenue to develop a sports and entertainment district downtown, our panel discusses new polling that reveals just how popular the Beehive State's new major-league hockey team actually is.

Host Jason Perry is joined by Jay Evenson, opinion editor at the Deseret News — Lindsay Aerts, ABC4 News Anchor and Host of "Inside Utah Politics" — and Marty Carpenter, partner with Northbound Strategy.

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by Merit Medical and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit pbsutah.org/supporthinckley.